title: A retrospective review of 34,109 epidural anesthetics for obstetric and gynecologic procedures at a single private hospital in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the safety of the routine use of epidural anesthesia by an experienced anesthetic team in a select group of obstetric and gynecologic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All anesthetic records and an obstetric department database from 1993 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 35,628 cases). Success rate, major complication rates, and mortality rates were the major end-points of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed 34,109 epidural blocks in obstetric and gynecologic anesthesia. The epidural rate increased from 57% to 96% over a 14-yr period. Permanent neurological sequel, cardiac arrest, or mortality and maternal mortality were not seen during this period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidural anesthesia/analgesia, as performed in a private hospital in Turkey by five experienced anesthesiologists for a select group of patients, was a reliable and safe procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Basinsitesi, Izmir, Turkey. kaankat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katircioglu
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hasegeli
authors.forename: H Fehmi
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ibrahimhakkioglu
authors.forename: Berkay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Damar
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey